The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-01-12
Message of Michigan's Retiring
Governor to the State
Legislature.
Condition of the States Educational
Charitable, Reformatory, and
Penal Institutions.
A Variety OF Recommendation Fired
mt the Assembled Law
Makers.


our State is practically out of debt: consequent
ly nothing need be said of its credit, because IL
does not use it, nor is it probable that 1t Will
over have occasion To do SO again.
Our State institutions are, in the main, in
excellent condition. The State University
Agricultural College. and Normal School all re-
quire appropriations for repairs, improvements
and maintenance.
The Reform School for Boys. at Lansing
under the able management of Superintendent
Cover, is doing great work. L, however
recommend that the name DO changed SO as to
strike out the word Reform" for the reason
chat it indicates punishment for an otiense IL
docs no good, and the rules of the institution
can as well be enforced without the name as
with it.
The Industrial School for Girls at Adrian
needs some careful attention and consideration.
The same rule Will, in measure apply To that
school, about placing girls in homes, that has
Just been recommended for the Reform School
very great wrong connected with this institu-
ton should be righted ut once While there are
very many bad girls in the school, there are
quite large number of small ones, and some
larger ones, too, who arc sent there simply be-
cause they have no friends. They are charged
with "vagrancy," and with being "wayward'-
anything To come under the letter OF the law,
TO get rid of the care of them. No girl can 30
20 that school without carrying away more or
less of n faint which affects her character, and
will do SO through life, rs IL is purely reforma
tory, and the innocent class referred To should
bo taken away Immediately. Several smaller
girls have been sent home and recommitted to
the Coldwater school within the past year, from
which place they have been sent 10 comfortable
homes. L recommend the enactment of II law
absolutely prohibiting the sending of any girl
to that institution thut has not Il bad character.
OF the Coldwater school j cannot say too
much in praise In twelve years il has received
NEARLY 300 children, and placed in homes over
LOO Of them. Its management, in my judg-
ment, is near perfection possible.
The State Prison ut jackson is an odd trap"
and ought to be thoroughly overhauled.
The Ionia House of Correction is in excellent
condition
Tho State Prison of the Upper Peninsula
has filed it's annual report, which is submitted.
recommend the request of the Board that fur
ther aid be granted.
The Schools for the Blind and Deaf and Dumb
are doing great work, and recommend
them to your cordial support.
THE INSANE
Tho four Insane Asyums have made ex-
haustive reports OF their conditions and doings.
1t Will be noticed that requests made tor
improvements, for the purchase OF land, aud
for the building of cottages, all of which APP
prove, except L recommend that whatever
moneys are expended by the Pontiac and kala-
maZOO Asyluns shall bo taken from their sur
plus fund and 40 appropriation from the State
asked for. At the rate charged for caring for
patients during the present low prices of pro-
visions quite II substantial saving is maze, and
1T is out of this that 1t is recommended the inn
,provements asked for shall be made. Tie
colony system, so far as il can be used, is very
much cheaper than keeping patients in the
main buildings. cottages be built for
from two hundred and fifty TO three hundred
dollars per patient, while the main buildings
have cost more than thousand dollars per
patient; and besides these cottages placed on
farms give the patients work which they gladly
perform, and not only benefit themselves but
contribute much toward their own support.
The Asylum at Traverse City is, in construction
and management, all tt at could be desired.
The Asylum for Insane Criminals at Ionia is
ably managed, but its location, overlooking the
prison yard as IL does, is most unfortunate. l
hope 1t will not be enlarged, but that il may be
turned into a much needed prison for women,
and "A new asylum, where ample lands can DO
obtained, may be erected for the criminal in
sane.
1 / submit the report OF the Mining School, and
recommend il TO your careful attention. The
mining interest of Michigan has become so very
great, although still in its infancy that all that
pertains to the scientific knowledge concerning
&c may be encouraged. / trust you will deal lib
orally with it. This school has opened under
the most favorable auspices, and already at the
close of the first term is in admirable and estab
Iished working order.
The report Of the Board Of Corrections and
Charities is submitted herewith Many of its
recommendations are excellent, especially
those pertaining to our county jails and poor
houses, but / differ materially with them in
some matters, and especially that contained in
the fifth section of the report. which reads as
follows: This board has found n great laxity III
the method of doing business and one which
would should never obtain in any state nstitu-
ton respecting tho expenditure of public
money. We desire particularly TO disclaim any
iidea that there has been, so far we know,
any wrong, except what may be considered such
sfrom the facts that the boards spend the money
for purposes not authorized by any law The
evil grows out of the somewhat loose manner in
which appropriations are made
IL in substance charges the Boards with mis-
. appropriation Of money although probably such
is not its intention. The Boards of these differ
ent institutions are made up from the very best
men in our State--men who give their time and
thought TO the care of the same without pay or
thanks, bat simply from motive TO serve tho
State and do what good they can for the unfor-
tunate inmates OF them. They are in large
part thorough business men, and their judg-
ment as to any emergency which arises, and
which cannot be provided for by special legisla-
ton because unforeseen, should be either ac-
-cepted by the State or else the system should be
abolished or other men appointed to fill their
places. For instance, surprising in one of these
institutions any disaster should occur, such as
q breakage OF machinery loss Of property by
fire, the death of horse that is essent al
to the work of the same? Under their plan
nothing could be done To supply the loss until
the Legislature should meet and make an ap-
preparation; unless, OF course, a special contn-
gent fund shall DO placed at the disposal Of the
Boards. in which case the State could not be the
gamer. they would have as much discretion
now. Contingencies for the expenditure Of
money will continually come up, and when they
do must be met, and there is no way TO meet
then except by giving TO the Boards in charge
discretionary powers to great extent.
ti,ink IL would be wise to enact law re-
curing all boards OF institutions to make an
nucl settlements with the State, covering all
unused or accumulated balances into the State
Treasury. This would be doing business in a
business way believe tho Board OF Correc-
work in the State, but think they accom-
plishilg their greatest good in connection with
our county agents, jails and poorhouses, and
hope thor powers and duties may be confined
to the latter work, and that they may be re-
ilieved from looking after the State insttut ons.
recommend the law to be changed accordingly.
The board for the Soldiers Home also sub
mits its report. This Home was erected on a
beautiful site near the city of Grand Rapids,
which was purchased by its citizens at n cost
OF about $4,000 ana presented 70 the State.
Plans and specifications were advertised for 30
construct building that would accommodate
at least4O0 people, Bids were invited by adj
vertist ment, and ranged from 1891 TO S99,-
66T.61. The latter was accepted The building
WIS substantially completed and dedicated
with appropriate ceremonies on the 3Oth ult
The furnishing OF the same was not taken into
account, and IL will require the sum OF about
ga 600 20 meet that account. While the build
.ings OF tho State institutions outside OF the
state prisons have averaged to cost not ovei
81 900 for ench person accommodated when they
are full yet this one has cost as you will SEE
by the within figures, not to exceed 500 fol
each person il will accommodate, and its con
struction and material will compare fayorably
with any erected by the State.
The Home since IL was established, has &c
commodated large number OF old soldiers. bu
could not take all who applied, although de
serving. ON account Of lack OF funds aplropri
ated for their maintenance. These old veteran
have been scattered around among boarding
houses since the law establishing IL went int
effect, and n visit to them will convince an
person that the State did n just and deserving
act in providing n home for them. They ar
indeed helpless lot and the State in it's graft
sude should provide literally fer their car